Most incredible thing you've heard when dealing with a Disney newbee.

Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm looking for some stories of things that you dealt with either by friends that were going to Disney for the first time, had just been or thing that you heard or dealt with in the parks themselves.

Mine was a friend that was going, just she and her husband, for their first trip to Orlando. She knew that I had been many times and wanted my advice. This was a few years back so it was considerably less complicated then it is now. Anyway, I gathered all my books, video's, brochures and paraphernalia together and let them read through it. They made a good choice and decided to stay 5 nights at the Poly. Back then ADR's really didn't exist...you made your reservations when you got there. I also spent one on one time with them trying my best to explain what they could expect when they got there. Long story short...they went and when they returned I asked them how they liked it. The reply was..."it was the most boring time we have ever had anywhere". When I asked why...what did they do... the response I got was. Well, all you do is walk around, there's nothing there to do except a few kiddie rides and a lot of buildings that we weren't interested in. When I asked about PoTC, or HM etc. they just looked at me funny. I said, didn't you go into any of the buildings and they said... No, those were just gift shops and we didn't want to buy anything. So they went for 4 days, if I remember correctly there were three parks at the time and never went in any of the rides or even knew they were there. They must have been listening really close when I talked to them.

They told me that the NEXT YEAR they were not going to waste anymore time or money they were going on a cruise. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they just stood on the dock and waved as the ship left port and came home and complained about how there was nothing to do on a cruise.
 
Kramerica

Kramerica

Well-Known Member
The most common thing I hear is people confusing Disneyland and disneyworld. Then they'll get upset with you when you correct them. I've heard typical things like "space mountain has loops!" and "pirates of the Caribbean isn't around anymore" just dumb little ideas that people have gotten that aren't based on any truth. Don't try and argue with these people.
 
Monkee Girl

Monkee Girl

Well-Known Member
Sometimes you just have to not your head and go 'ok' to people like that. As much as I hate to say it; Disney is just not for some people.

Anyway, I have to say the craziest thing I ever heard was a few years ago, I went on my normal vacation with my cousin and her daughter. But this trip, we had my other cousin, his girlfriend and 3 of 4 of her kids join us. The girlfriend and kids have never been to the parks, have been dying to go and saved everything they could to make this trip happen. Our first night in we had dinner at the Whispering Canyon (our tradition) and we couldn't WAIT to see the kid's and the girlfriend's faces during this meal. The restaurant didn't disappoint: we had Ketchup, the kids did the stick horse race, my cousin had to get up and sing "I'm a Little Teapot," Shinanagins galore!!!!!!!

So I turned to the girlfriend, who was eating some fried chicken, and I asked her how she was enjoying everything and her responce:

"It's just chicken..."

o_O

I mean...

o_Oo_Oo_O!!!???

I mean...

Her boyfriend just had to stand up and sing like he was in pre-school and all you can say is "It's just chicken"!!???

How do you respond to that?

Anyway, I don't know if there were relationship problems going on that existed before this trip, I don't know if there was something that happened during their car ride to the resort...maybe she was just tired from the travel...overwhelmed maybe? All I know is for a woman, who's been planning her first family trip to Disney World and is experiencing The Whipering Canyon of all places, to respond with such and uninterested tone she had to be nuts.

But...to each his own I guess...
 
maryszhi

maryszhi

Well-Known Member
Goofyernmost said:
I'm looking for some stories of things that you dealt with either by friends that were going to Disney for the first time, had just been or thing that you heard or dealt with in the parks themselves.

Mine was a friend that was going, just she and her husband, for their first trip to Orlando. She knew that I had been many times and wanted my advice. This was a few years back so it was considerably less complicated then it is now. Anyway, I gathered all my books, video's, brochures and paraphernalia together and let them read through it. They made a good choice and decided to stay 5 nights at the Poly. Back then ADR's really didn't exist...you made your reservations when you got there. I also spent one on one time with them trying my best to explain what they could expect when they got there. Long story short...they went and when they returned I asked them how they liked it. The reply was..."it was the most boring time we have ever had anywhere". When I asked why...what did they do... the response I got was. Well, all you do is walk around, there's nothing there to do except a few kiddie rides and a lot of buildings that we weren't interested in. When I asked about PoTC, or HM etc. they just looked at me funny. I said, didn't you go into any of the buildings and they said... No, those were just gift shops and we didn't want to buy anything. So they went for 4 days, if I remember correctly there were three parks at the time and never went in any of the rides or even knew they were there. They must have been listening really close when I talked to them.

They told me that the NEXT YEAR they were not going to waste anymore time or money they were going on a cruise. It wouldn't surprise me at all it they just stood on the dock and waved as the ship left port and came home and complained about how there was nothing to do on a cruise.
Click to expand...
omg!!!! thats crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cannot even imagine that
 
neoshinok

neoshinok

Well-Known Member
Got this exact kind of story from a co-worker who visited Epcot for the first time last year.

Me: Did you have a good time?
Him: Not really, just a lot of walking.
Me: What did you ride?
Him: The only ride I saw was Test Track and it had an hour wait, so I didn't go.
Me: What about Spaceship Earth? Inside the big ball?
Him: THERE'S A RIDE IN THERE!?
Me: Didn't you get a map?
Him: Didn't want to buy one.
Me: They're free!
Him: Oh, well that's pretty cool...

Seriously, how does this happen to people?
 
ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
neoshinok said:
Got this exact kind of story from a co-worker who visited Epcot for the first time last year.

Me: Did you have a good time?
Him: Not really, just a lot of walking.
Me: What did you ride?
Him: The only ride I saw was Test Track and it had an hour wait, so I didn't go.
Me: What about Spaceship Earth? Inside the big ball?
Him: THERE'S A RIDE IN THERE!?
Me: Didn't you get a map?
Him: Didn't want to buy one.
Me: They're free!
Him: Oh, well that's pretty cool...

Seriously, how does this happen to people?
Click to expand...
I will admit, my first trip to EPCOT was like this and I'd been a Disney freak years before that. However, I'm very willing to actually plan next trip and do EPCOT right!
 
Lynn1030

Lynn1030

Well-Known Member
The one I've gotten several times is:

Newbie: We're going/went to Disney.
Me: awesome! Which park(s) did you go to?
Newbie: We went to Disney. (in a duh aren't you listening tone)
Me: yes, but which park? Magic Kingdom? Epcot?....
Newbie: We went to Disney! (now looking at me like I have 2 heads and am apparently deaf)

...this could go on a little while longer from them not understanding that either 1) there's more than one park or 2) that what they are referring to as "Disney" is actually called Magic Kingdom, at which point I give up and just ask them how they liked it and then change the subject.
 
DizneyPryncess

DizneyPryncess

Well-Known Member
Goofyernmost said:
I'm looking for some stories of things that you dealt with either by friends that were going to Disney for the first time, had just been or thing that you heard or dealt with in the parks themselves.

Mine was a friend that was going, just she and her husband, for their first trip to Orlando. She knew that I had been many times and wanted my advice. This was a few years back so it was considerably less complicated then it is now. Anyway, I gathered all my books, video's, brochures and paraphernalia together and let them read through it. They made a good choice and decided to stay 5 nights at the Poly. Back then ADR's really didn't exist...you made your reservations when you got there. I also spent one on one time with them trying my best to explain what they could expect when they got there. Long story short...they went and when they returned I asked them how they liked it. The reply was..."it was the most boring time we have ever had anywhere". When I asked why...what did they do... the response I got was. Well, all you do is walk around, there's nothing there to do except a few kiddie rides and a lot of buildings that we weren't interested in. When I asked about PoTC, or HM etc. they just looked at me funny. I said, didn't you go into any of the buildings and they said... No, those were just gift shops and we didn't want to buy anything. So they went for 4 days, if I remember correctly there were three parks at the time and never went in any of the rides or even knew they were there. They must have been listening really close when I talked to them.

They told me that the NEXT YEAR they were not going to waste anymore time or money they were going on a cruise. It wouldn't surprise me at all it they just stood on the dock and waved as the ship left port and came home and complained about how there was nothing to do on a cruise.
Click to expand...

This reminds of me of Tiny Toons "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" when they go to Happy World Land but don't ride anything. I just can't believe they didn't pick up a map & see the list of rides! Or at least read about them in all the books & things that you gave them.

When I was in DL a few years ago (my one & only time there), I met my Uncle & Aunt who live in California. They visit DL a handful of times a year. When we went into the parks, they told me they didn't think we needed to "buy the front of the line passes, because waits wouldn't be long." I was like...wait, what? Those are fast passes, and they are free. I tried to explain what they were to them, but they just looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. I couldn't understand how you could visit DL frequently, but have no idea what a fast pass is!
 
maryszhi

maryszhi

Well-Known Member
Kramerica said:
The most common thing I hear is people confusing Disneyland and disneyworld. Then they'll get upset with you when you correct them. I've heard typical things like "space mountain has loops!" and "pirates of the Caribbean isn't around anymore" just dumb little ideas that people have gotten that aren't based on any truth. Don't try and argue with these people.
Click to expand...
legit one time at check in a lady was nervous as to why they did not have her reservation. turns out her travel agent booked disneyland everything, except a flight to orlando..... long story short they had everything converted and the lady had a disney world vacation.
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
@WDWForTwo said:
I've heard the "there's more than one park?" question a few times.
Click to expand...
That was me!

I was like, "What are you talking about, 'three parks'...I want to go to Disney World!"

Newbies don't bug me at all. Not one little bit.

I periodically am annoyed with things said by people who feel they are experts, like "It never rains for more than 20 minutes," but what can you do. Nothing. Back, make like a duck and let it roll off. :)
 
@WDWForTwo

@WDWForTwo

Member
I noticed on this last trip a lot of people had no clue how the fastpass system worked. I heard several people explaining to their families that it "cost more to get those." It really does amaze me that people spend thousands and thousands of dollars for a Disney vacation and then don't do any research whatsoever. I mean, an hour? Two? You're going to be there for a week, don't you want to have SOME idea of what you're going to do there?
 
Justin Doggett

Justin Doggett

Member
^ Completly Agree . I thought i could do all of Disney in 4 days but theres no way so i planned 6 days at the parks so i make sure i dont miss anything or if i do i can always go back and do that after my first 4 days.I would of never knew how much time i needed if i didnt do research
 
G

Gt2BtheGoodLife

Active Member
I have an interesting one that I heard from a friend who is a local. He was driving in Orlando when someone flagged him down for directions, only asking "Where is Orlando?" and of course he gave them I-4 directions to the downtown Orlando area thinking that's what they were meaning. Then suddenly the husband and wife start talking and he overheard the wife say, "Ok, we have to be behind the castle by x time." And he (the friend) asked, "I'm sorry, but where are you headed again?" To which the husband replied, "Cinderella's Royal Table" Yes, these people thought that the Magic Kingdom, let alone Cinderella Castle WAS the city of Orlando. Even though none of the parks are technically in Orlando at all.
 
Californian Elitist

Californian Elitist

Well-Known Member
When I worked at DL last year, this man and his family got stuck one of the attractions for maybe 30 mins (I completely forgot which one. May have been Matterhorn), and just for that, he wanted us to comp him multi-day park hopper tickets for his family of five, a free five night stay at the Grand Californian and free food for those five days in the park. Yeah.

When an attraction breaks down while you're in line or on the ride, you're allowed to come back at a later time during the day and ride when it's back up without having to wait in line again. I was working Alice in Wonderland one day and this family of three came up and told me Alice had broken down on them a year ago while visiting and they wanted to ride. I couldn't believe my ears. These people waited an entire year just to abuse the system. As much as I didn't want to, I let them on anyways. I was ed.
 

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